Check book



J Mar. 3. 1925.

F. "r. WOOD CHECK BOOK Filed Dec. 28, 1922 INVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

FRANK T. WOOD, OF ALLSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

' -CI-IECK Boo-K.

Application filed'necember 28, 1922. Serial No. 609,387.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known'that I, FRANK T. 001), a subject of the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, residin'gat Allston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in. Check Books,

of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein tothe accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof My invention relates to check books, and

more particularly to a check book in which a pad, or block, of checks may be rem ovably.

mounted with relation to a-cover so as to permit the removalof' thestubs of the checks from the cover andthesubstitution of a fresh pad, or block, of checks'therefor;

It is customary for banks, and other financia-l institutions, to furnish their customers with check books, so that' with anactive checking account, the expense entailed by a bank in the gratis distribution books is material. v 7

Various types of check books have here tofore been devised for the purpose of permitting the continued use of a coverafter all checks carried within same have been used, a common practice having been to employ refills composed of checks padded toof' check gether without a cover, and capable of being assembled 111 a speciallyconstructed cover.

The most common expedient. has been the use of a cardboard. tongue upon the. back of the pad or block of checks, adapted to enter a pocket in the lower side cover adthe use of this construction o f bookfor ordinary pocket, or three-on orfour-on check hooks whereln the number of sheets used is ordinarily from fifty to one hundred, and

. sometimes even more, and the weight of the block is material. IVith largerand heavier pads the tongue and pocket securing means between the cover and the pad cannot be used, because this means of connection lacks 7 the necessary permanency or rigidity to properly support the pad while the book is being handled.

By means of a check book embodying my invention, I am enabled to provide a struc ture in which the removable pad or block of checks and their stubs, whether the latter be attached to the checks, or carried up 0n an insert sheet when assembled in the cover, will have the same, or possibly even a greater, degree of rigidty than the ordinary check book in which the checks are permanently bound in the cover. Notwithstandingthisrigidity of structure, a pad, or block, of checks may be quickly and firmly mounted Within the cover, and the stubs as quickly removed therefrom when all the I checks have been used to permit the mounting of a new refill pad or block in the cover to replace the pad or block, thechecks in which have been used. v

A further characteristic'ofthe invention is that the portion of the means carried by the cover for permittinga pad or block of checks to be mounted therein, cooperates directly with the'various sheets of the pad or block of checks, and also reinforces the cover adjacent the back and hinge thereof in a'manner to prolong the life" of the cover; The pad or block is so secured with relation to the cover'tliatit cannot accidently escape from the cover during handling of the check book, or in the event that the user should drop'the book, and under no cir: cumstances can" the pad or block have any such movementwith'relation to the cover as will interfere with the handling of the book or its use when filling out checks.

In a check book embodying my invention, the cost of the cover, which may be used for a long period and with a large numberof pads. or.blocks, will be but little greater than the cost of the, binding of an. ordinar yjicheck book-of thesaine size, and the cost of the refill pads or blocks will be very materially less than that of a. bound check book, and not materially greater than the checks and stubs which enter intorthe production of an ordinary check book.

The invention consists primarily in a I checks of a thickness to have a sliding fit in said channel piece and consisting of a plurality of superimposed sheets bound together at one edge thereof, and cooperating means carried by said channel piece and formed on said pad or block adjacent the bound edges of said sheets, whereby said pad or block may be removably and rigidly connected with said cover; and in such other novel characteristics as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pocket check book embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view upon a larger scale, of the cover and the means carried adjacent the back thereof, cooperating directly with the pad or block of checks in securing same to the cover; and

Fig. 3 is a view upon a larger scale, partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, illustrating a. portion of a completely assembled check book adjacent the back, and the manner of mounting the pad or block therein and removing it therefrom.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings, I have shown an embodiment of my inventionconsisting of an ordinary pocket check book having stiff sides and containing approximately fifty checks with the usual insert stub sheets. It will be readily understood, however, that the application of the invention to larger check books of the three-on and four-on type in which each of the checks is connected directly to a stub, would involve a mere change in the dimensions, and possibly the weight, of the parts of the cover, but would require no material changes in its structural haracteristics.

The cover, as shown in the drawings, consists of the upper and lower sides aand Z) and a channeled back 0, which parts have the ordinary cloth cover, forming hinges between said back and said sides. While'cloth is shown as being the covering material, it is apparent that if desired a more expensive or a more decorative covering material may be used, since the life of a cover in a check .iodying my invention is determined by the durability of the. material entering into same and not by the use of the checks carried and protected thereby. Furthermore, in view of the possibility of a prolonged use of the cover, an issuing bank may prefer to use more expensive and more deco retire material for some of its customers, or by way of advertising, particularly as the additional expense of such is not great as compared with the saving which can be effected by the subsequent issue of refill pads or blocks instead of completel bound check books having rovers of cheaper materials.

Secured to the channelled back of the cover is a stud or studs (Z, preferably two or more such studs being used, which studs project across the channel of the back at a point or points intermediate the ends thereof, and are preferably firmly secured to a metal channel piece e conforming to the cl1an nelled back 0 and adapted to seat within same. Said studs are preferably secured to said metal channel piece by having reduced ends passing through openings therein and riveted or upset, said channel piece and said studs thus serving to impart additional rigidity to the back of the cover.

The channel piece a is provided at each end of each side, and of the bottom, thereof with extensions 6 adapted to be closed and crimped upon the edges of the back channel 0 for securing the channel piece 6 permanently in position with relation thereto. lVhile in the drawings, I have shown the crimped extensions as being exposed exteriorly of the covering cloth of the cover, it is apparent that if desired the channel piece 6 may be applied to the back channel 0 before the covering material is applied to the different parts of the cover, and thus conceal the securing means for said channel piece 6.

The cover heretofore described is adapted to receive a pad or block f of checks formed of a plurality of superimposed sheets which may contain one or more impressions, as desired, or be in the form of single checks, or three-on or four-on check sheets, and have the stubs in the form of insert sheets or printed upon the same sheets as the checks. Said sheets are bOullCl together at one edge in any desired manner, although I preferably use wire stitching as indicated at g for this purpose, since such stitching possesses greater permanency than other padding means, and will also serve as a reinforcement at certain points of this edge, which is of value when mounting or removing a pad or block from the cover.

The pad or block f is of a thickness to permit the port-ion thereof adjacent the bound edges of the sheets forming same to have a. sliding fit within the channel piece c, and said pad or block has formed thereon means co-operating with means carried by said channel piece whereby said pad or block may be removably and rigidly connected with thecover.

The various sheets of the. pad or block adjacent the bound edge thereof, have formed therein as by launching, a bayonet slot or slots h adapted to receive thestud or studs (Z, and form a tongue 2' adapted to pass between a stud (Z and the bottom of said channel piece and thus permit the rapid and convenient removal of the stubs from a cover, and the equally rapid and convenient substitution of a fresh pad or tongues between '7 block therefor The. bayonet slots h are preferably positioned adjacent the wire stitches 9 so that these stitches may reinforce the thin portion of the pad or block between a portion of the bayonet joint and of the material of the pad with or without 10- the wire stitching 9 will impart considerable strength to the tongues 2' produced as a result of the formation of the bayonet slots, and the close sliding fit of said the studs (Z and the bottom of the channel piece 6 will ensure the desired rigidity in the connection between the pad or block and the cover, I preferably form the portion of the bayonet slot ex.-

' tending substantially parallel with the botwithin the side covers a and b, thewedging action. of the bayonet slotforoingthe bound tom of the channelmember 6, upon a slight incline so as to secure a wedging action between the tongues z and the/studs, which will force the bound edge of the pad or block firmly against the bottom of said channel piece. v

lVith the construction described, in mounting a pad or blockin the cover, the open end of each bayonet slot is passed over a stud (Z and the pad thrust towardithe bottom of the channel piece 6 in the "direction indicated by the arrow 1 in Fig. 3. The pad or block is then moved inthe direction of.

the arrow 2 until it is brought entirely edge of the pad firmly against the bottom of the channel piece 6. I Y v p a It. will be noted that the length of the bayonet slot is such that when the block is thus positioned within the. cover, it cannot escape therefrom with the handling of the book, because of the different directions of movement necessary to separate the pad or block from the cover, the sliding fit between the pad or block and the. channel 6 and the tight fit of the tongues 2' between the studs (Z and thebottom -of the channel piece 6 in the event of' the tongues being wedge-shaped. Furthermore, the lengthof these slots being greater thanthe distance between the edge of the ,pad and the adjacent edge. of th channel 6 and book side a or b, in'oase the book is dropped, and falls upon one edge with sufficient force to cause sliding movement of the pad within the cover, the movement required to bring the pad in a position where the tongues. i are disengaged from the studs (1 is sufficient to require that the pad extend beyond the edges of the. side covers a and b so that under no circumstances can the pad orblock accidently. escape from the cover.

hen allof the checks in a. pad or block have been used, the stubs, irrespective of their form, are removed from the cover by a reversal of the steps for inserting a. pad or block therein, and a fresh block substituted therefor.

In a check book embodying my invention, the assembled pad or block and cover does not differ in size or appearance from permanently bound checkbooks of the same size and character, and is used in exactly the same manner; i

The covers may be conveniently and economically produced without regard to the numbering or other printing upon the checks, and may, if desired, have the name of the bank or its customers embossed, or

otherwise impressed thereon, since this ordinary bound check books, is the punching of the bayonet slots therein, but this is a machine operation and does not add mate 'rially' to the costof the pads, and is very much less than the cost of binding such: checks in covered book form, particularly with acloth covering. I

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the accompanying drawings, it being apparent that such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. i Having described the invention,what. I claim as-new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is if v 1. A checkbook embodying therein a protecting co erincluding therein a back and opposite side covers, one of which is hinged with relation to said back, a metal channel piece carried at the back of said cover, a pad" of checks of a'thicknes's to have a sliding'fit in said channel piece and consisting of a plurality of superiinposed sheets bound together at one edge thereof, and cooperating means carried by said channelpiece and formed of the-mateformed therein adjacent, and opening outwardly of, the bound edges of said sheets to form a tongue of the material of said pad adapted, by a two-way movement, to

interlock with said stud to removably and rigidly connect said pad with said cover.

A check book embodying therein a protecting cover including therein a channelled back, opposite side covers, .one of which is hinged with relation to said back, and a stud carried by and extending across said channelled back, a pad of checks of a thickness to have a sliding fit in said channelled back, consisting of a plurality of superimposed sheets, a wire. stitch binding said sheet-s together, and a tongue upon said pad formed by a bayonet slot adja cent, and opening outwardly of, the bound edges of said sheets, and so located as to include said wire stitch in said tongue, whereby said tongue is reinforced by said wire stitch and is adapted, by a two-way movement, to interlock with said stud to removably and rigidly connect said pad withsaid cover.

i. A check book embodying therein a protecting cover including therein a channelled back, opposite side covers, one of which is hinged with relation to said back, and

a stud carried by and extending across said channelled back, and a pad of checks of a thickness to have a sliding lit in said channelled back, consisting of a plurality of superimposed sheets bound together at one edge thereof, and having a bayonet slot formed therein adjacent, extending at an incline to, and opening outwardly of, the bound edges 'of said sheets to form a wedge-shaped tongue of the material of said pad adapted, by a two-way movement, to interlock with said stud to removably and rigidly connect said pad with said cover.

A check book embodying therein a protecting cover including therein a channelled back, opposite side covers, one of which is hinged with relation to said back, and a stud carried by and extending across said channelled back, a pad of chec :s of a thickness to have a sliding fit in said channelled back, consisting of a plurality of superimposed sheets, a wire stitch binding said sheets together. and a wedge-shaped tongue upon said pad formed by a bayonet slot adjacent, extending at an incline to, an opening outwardly of, the bound edges of said sheets, and so located as to include said wire stitch in said tongue, whereby said tongue is reinforced by said wire stitch and is adapted, by a two-way movement, to interlock with said stud to removably and rigidly connect said pad with said cover;

6. A check book embodying therein a protecting cover including therein a channelled back and opposite side covers, one of which is hinged with relation to said back, a metal channel piece having extensions at each end of each side, and of the botton,

thereof, folded and crimped upon said channelled back of said cover, and a pad of checks of a thickness to have a sliding fit in said channel piece and consisting of a plurality of superimposed sheets bound together at one edge thereof, and co-operating means carried by said channel piece and formed on said pad adjacent the bound edges of said sheets, whereby said pad may be removably and rigidly connected with said cover.

7. A check book embodying therein a protecting cover including therein a channelled back, opposite side covers, one of which is hinged with relation to said back, a metal channel piece carried by said channelled back, and a stud carried by and extending across said channel piece, and a pad of checks of a thickness to have a sliding fit in said channelled back, consisting of a plurality of superimposed sheets bound together at one edge thereof, and having a bayonet slot formed therein adjacent, and opening outwardly of, the bound edges of said sheets to form a tongue of the mate-- rial of said pad adapted, by a two-way movement, to interlock with said stud to remo-vably and rigidly connect said pad with said cover.

8. A check book embodying therein a protecting cover including therein a channelled back, opposite side covers, one of which is hinged with relation to said back, a metal channel piece carried by said channelled back, and a stud carried by and extending across said channel piece, and a pad of checks of a thickness to have a sliding fit in said channelled back, consisting of a plurality of superimposed Zjsheets, a. wire stitch binding said sheets together, and a tongue upon said pad formed by a bayonet slot adjacent, and opening outwardly of, the bound edges of said sheets, and so located as to include said wire stitch in said tongue. whereby said tongue is reinforced by said wire stitch and is adapted, by a two-way movement, to interlock with said stud to removably and rigidly connect said pad with said cover.

9. A check book embodying therein a pro tecting cover including therein a channelled back, opposite side covers, one of which is hinged with relation to said back, a metal channel piece carried by said channelled back, and a stud carried by and extending across said channel piece, and a pad of checks of a thickness to have a sliding lit in said channelled back, consisting of a plurality of superimposed sheets bound together at one edge thereof, and having a bayonet slot formed therein adjacent, extending at an incline to, and opening outwardly of, the bound edges of said sheets to form a wedge-shaped tongue adapted, by a twoway movement, to interlock with said stud to removably and rigidly connect said pad with said cover. a

10. A check book embodying therein protecting cover including therein a channelled back, opposite side covers, one of which is hinged with relation to said back, a metal channel piece carried by said channelled back, and a stud carried by and extending across said channel piece, and a pad of checks of a thickness to have aisliding fit in said channelled back, consisting of a plurality of superimposed sheets, a wire stitch binding said sheets together, and a wedge-shaped tongue upon said pad formed by a bayonet slot adjacent, extending at an incline to, and opening outwardly of, the

' bound edges of said sheets, and so located as to include said wire stitch in said tongue, whereby said tongue is reinforced by said wire stitch and is adapted, by a two-way movement, to interlock with said stud to removably and rigidly connect said pad with said cover.

11. A check book embodying therein a protecting cover includingtherein a chan nelled back and opposite side covers, one of which is hinged with relation to said back, and a metal channel piece having extensions at each end of each side, and of the bottom, thereof, folded and crimped upon said channelled back of said cover, and a stud carried. by and extending across said channel piece, and a pad of checks of a thickness to have a sliding fit in said channelled back, consisting of a plurality of superimposed sheets, a wire stitch binding said sheets together, and a wedge-shaped tongue upon said pad formed by a bayonet" slot adjacent, extending at an incline to, and opening outwardly of, the bound edges of said sheets, and so located as to include said wire stitch in said tongue, whereby said tongue is reinforced by said wire stitch and is adapted, by a two-way movement, to interlock with said stud to removably and rigidly connect said pad with said cover.

12. In a check book, a protecting cover including therein a channelled back, o-pposite side covers, one of which is hinged with relation to said back, a metal channel 7 piece secured to said channelled back, and a stud carried by and extending across said metal channel piece and adapted to engage a pad of checks and retain them with relation to said cover. I

13. In a check book, a protecting cover including therein a'channelled back, opposite side covers, one of which is hinged with relation to said back, a metal channel plece secured to said channelled back, and a plurality of studs carried by and extending across said metal channel piece and adapted to engage a pad of checks and retain them with relation to said cover.

14. In a check book, a protecting cover ineluding therein a channelledback, opposite side covers, one of whlch 1s hlnged with relation to said back, a metal channel piece hava plurality of studs carried by and extending across said metal channel piece and adapted to engage a pad of checks and retain them with relation to said cover.

15. In a check book, a pad of checks consisting of a plurality of superimposed sheets bound together at one edge thereof and having a bayonet slot formed therein adjacent, and opening outwardly of, the bound edges of said sheets to form a tongue of the material of said pad adapted, by a two-way movement, to interlock with a stud upon a cover to removably and rigidly connect the pad with a cover. a

16 In a check book, a pad of checks consisting of a plurality of superimposed sheets bound together at one edge thereof and having a bayonet slot formed therein adjacent,

extending at an incline to, and opening outwardly of, the bound edges of said sheets to form a wedge-shaped tongue of the material of said pad adapted, by; a two-waj movement, to interlock with a stud upon a'cover to removably and rigidly connect the pad with a cover. 7

17 In a check book, a pad of checks con sisting of a plurality of superimposed sheets, a wire stitch binding'said sheets together, and a tongue upon said pad formed by a bayonet slot adjacent, and opening outwardly of, the bound edges of said sheets, and so located as to include said wire stitch in said tongue, whereby said tongue is reinforced by said wire stitch and is adapted, by a two-way movement, to interlock with a stud upon a, cover to removably and rigidly connect the pad with a cover.

18. In a check book, a pad of checks consisting of a plurality of superimposed sheets. a plurality of wire stitches binding said sheets together, and a plurality of wedgeshaped tongues upon said pad formed by bayonet slots adjacent, extending atan incline to, and opening outwardly of, the bound edges of said sheets, and located respectively to include a wire stitch in each of said tongues, whereby each of said tongues is reinforced by a wire stitch and is adapted,"

R. R. TINKHAM, H. V. OoNNELL.

' Witnesses 

